Taxpayers face Waitangi week walloping

Monday, 4 February 2019, 11:54 am
Press Release: New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Taxpayers face Waitangi week walloping

FEBRUARY 4 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This Waitangi period is shaping up to be one of the most expensive ever for taxpayers, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “So far this Waitangi period, the Government has announced $100 million for Maori landowners, $27 million for infrastructure in Kaipara, $82 million for jobs programmes, and $21 million for digital ‘hubs’. So far, that’s $230 million taken from taxpayers, and we’ve still got a few days to go!”

“The Waitangi period should be about reflecting on New Zealand’s origins, not using taxpayer money to buy support from iwi leaders. Instead of screwing taxpayers, the Government should examine its own role in impoverishing Māori through restrictions on house-building and punitive tobacco taxes.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

New Zealand's grassroots campaign for lower taxes and less government waste

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is an independent activist group, dedicated to being the voice for Kiwi taxpayers in the corridors of power. It's here to fight government waste and make sure New Zealanders get value for money from their tax dollar. New Zealanders are invited to join and donate at http://taxpayers.org.nz

Contact New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

• Website - taxpayers.org.nz
• Facebook
• Twitter - @TaxpayersUnion
• Media Contact - media@taxpayers.org.nz
• Media Contact - Media line (24-hr) 04 282 0302

... and the dawn of something much better?
2019 looks like it might well be another really bad, terrible, not so good year for the traditional journalism model globally. Already in January three leading US digital outlets—BuzzFeed, the Huffington Post, and Vice announced layoffs that have left many accomplished journalists unemployed. Consolidation of journalism looks set to continue unabated as larger (sharky) media conglomerates swallow up smaller players globally. We also appear to be witnessing the death throes of the concept of ‘objective’ truth in journalism. However, perhaps that is not at all as bad as it sounds, and we are just finally waking up to the reality that it never really existed in the first place... More>>